MASTERSON, Ray

(2 notices) Eagle Valley News; Richland, OR; 16 May 1918 Private Ray Masterson Dead Eagle Valley Boy in Uncle Sam's Service Passes Away at the Base Hospital at Vancouver at Five o'clock on Wednesday Morning, May 15th Ray Masterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Masterson, enlisted in the aviation service last fall and was sent to Texas where he was transferred to the Spruce Division and returned to Vancouver, and later assigned to Hoquiam, Wash., where he did duty as truck driver until a few weeks ago. For several eyars he had been afflicted on occasions with ear trouble, and an attack recently caused him to be sent to the U.S. base hospital at Vancouver. It was found that an operation was inadvisable the trouble developed into cerebro spinal meningitis which resulted in death. His mother went to Vancouver last week and on Monday telegraphed that Ray was unconscious and that death was expected any moment. Mr. Masterson and son H. R., left Tuesday but death beat them to the young man's bedside. The remains are expected to arrive today via Robinette and the funeral will be held here tomorrow (Friday) at 1:30 p.m. Services will be conducted at the cemetery if the weather is favorable, otherwise at one of the churches. Let everyone in the district turn out and thus show respect to the first Eagle Valley boy to die in our country's service. Eagle Valley News; Richland, OR; 23 May 1918 Ray Masterson was born at Lostine, Wallowa county, Oregon., Nov. 6th 1889, and died at the U.S. base hospital at Vancouver, Wash., on May 15th, 1918, aged 28 years, 6 months and 9 days. He graduated from the Portland Business college in 1906, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 1st, 1917. He had been a resident of Eagle Valley for a long time and was well known throughout this section. Ray was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Masterson of this place, and leaves besides the parents to mourn his departure one brother, H. R. Masterson of Richland; and two sisters, Mrs. W. L. McCubbin of Joseph, Ore., and Mrs. Bert Poulson of Tekoa, Wash., all of whom were present at the last sad rites. The funeral services were conducted at the Eagle Valley cemetery last Friday afternoon under the direction of the G.A.R. and were very impressive. Rev. J. M. Johnson delivered a most appropriate address, taking for his text the words: Greater love hath no man than he who giveth his life for his friends." His words were full of consolation for the grief stricken, and an inspiration towards greater patriotism to our flag for every person in the hearing of his voice.